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I NTRODUCTION The death of a loved one, whether sudden or after a long illness, can be the most stressful and saddest of times in anyone’s life. It’s a time of mixed emotions: shock, emptiness, despair, hurt and even anger. The everyday things become difficult to cope with and you don’t know which way to turn. Family and friends can be of great comfort and support but they too are grieving. There are the practical things that have to be dealt with: Registering the arrangements.
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Our aim is to help guide you through the process of registering the death with compassion and sensitivity. STEPS TO REGISTER A DEATH Why register a death? By law all deaths occurring in Northern Ireland must be registered in Northern Ireland. A death should be registered as soon as possible to allow further arrangements to be made but no later than five days from the date of occurrence except where the matter has been referred to the Coroner.
Where can a death be registered? In any District Registrar’s Office in Northern Ireland. A list of Registration Offices can be found at www.nidirect.gov.uk . What do you need in order to register a Death? A Medical Certificate of Cause of Death issued by a Doctor who has treated the deceased within 28 days before the date of death. If the deceased had not been seen by a doctor within that period or were the death was not caused by a natural illness the case would have been referred to the Coroner – the Registrar or a Funeral Director will advise you. What happens if the death is referred to the Coroner? If a death has been referred to the Coroner, funeral arrangements should not be made before the consent of the Coroner has been obtained. The death can be registered and a death certificate issued only after the Registrar has received the necessary certificate from the Coroner. When the Registrar’s office receives the appropriate form they will contact a relative of the deceased and ask them to call and register the death. For further information about the Coroner’s Service for Northern Ireland you can go to www.coronersni.gov.uk
Where can a death be registered?
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Who can register a Death? • • • • • • •
• If the deceased is an adult, please give details of parents, if known. Any relative of the deceased who has knowledge of • Maiden surname (if the deceased was a woman who the details required to be registered (this includes a had been married or in a civil partnership) relative by marriage/civil partnership) • The name and address of the deceased’s GP A person present at the death • Details of any pension that the deceased may have A person taking care of the funeral arrangements held (apart from a state pension). The executor or administrator of the deceased’s estate The governor, matron or chief officer of a public and if available, but not essential for registering the death: building where the death occurred A person living in and responsible for a house, • birth certificate lodgings or apartments where the death occurred • marriage/civil partnership certificates A person finding the body, or a person taking charge • NHS number/NHS medical card of the body.
What information will you need to give the Registrar? You will need to complete a Registration of a Death Form (GRO 73) which you can obtain from any Registration Office or can download from www.nidirect.gov.uk The application form will ask for the following: • Full forename(s) and surname of the deceased • Date and place of death and usual address • Status (single, married/civil partner, widowed/ surviving civil partner or divorced/civil partnership dissolved) • Date of birth and place of birth • The forename(s), surname and occupation of spouse or civil partner • If the deceased is a child under the age of 16 please give details of parents
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What will the Registrar give you? • GRO 21 which permits the burial or cremation to take place • Form 36 for production to the Social Security Offices regarding benefits and • Any certificates you may have purchased. What does it cost to register a death?
• DVA, to return any driving licence, cancel car tax or return car registration documents/change ownership • Housing Executive/Landlord • Mail Order Catalogues/Newsagents/Membership of various clubs/organisations • Appointments to cancel: Doctors/Hospital/Dentist/Optician/Chiropodist • Changing name on Household Bills: Electricity/Telephone/Television Licence/Dog Licence
There is no cost for registering a death. The only charge will be for the Death Certificate(s), if required. For deaths registered on or after 17th December 2012, there will be two types of certificates available. A full death certificate which shows the cause of death and a short certificate which does not show the cause of death. Both types of certificate cost the same. Checklist of others who may need to be contacted: As well as informing people who are close to the deceased you may also need to contact various Organisations, Government Departments, Insurance Companies, Banks to close accounts, or cancel or change insurance details, subscriptions, standing orders, direct debits etc. Here is a checklist to help you: • • • • • • • • • • •
Solicitor/Accountant Bank Accounts Post Office Accounts Building Society Accounts Mortgage Providers Insurance Companies Occupational Pensions Land and Property Services/Rates and Valuation The relevant Tax Office Child Benefit Office Retirement Pension (form 36/BD8-Social Security Agency)
Other places you may want to notify: • UK Identity & Passport Service, to return and cancel a passport
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REGISTERING A STILLBIRTH
Who can Register a Stillbirth?
What is Defined as a Stillbirth:
Primary Informants:-
A stillborn child is legally defined as a child born after • Either the mother or father if the parents are married to each other. the 24th week of pregnancy that did not breathe or show • The mother and father if the parents are not married any signs of life after being born. to each other. • The mother, if the parents are not married to each Ways of Registering a Stillbirth: other. The name of the father may not be recorded A stillbirth that occurred in Northern Ireland may be in this case. registered in any district in Northern Ireland regardless • The father, if the parents are not married to each other. (if the mother attends the registration office of the district where the stillbirth occurred or the usual following the registration and does not agree with residence of the mother. the information entered by the unmarried father the A stillbirth may be registered in one of the following ways: stillbirth can be re-registered. • By the informant on production to the Registrar of a Certificate of Stillbirth signed by a registered medical practitioner or certified midwife who was present at the stillbirth or has examined the body of the stillborn child • By the informant after the Registrar has received from the Coroner a Coroner’s Notification, if an inquest has not been held. • By the Registrar on receipt of a Coroner’s Certificate if an inquest has been held. There is no need for a qualified informant as the registration can take place on the authority of the Registrar General.
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Secondary Informants:-
HELPFUL CONTACTS:
• If the parents are not married to each other and cannot attend to register the stillbirth, the grandmother, grandfather, uncle or aunt of the stillborn child on the maternal side may carry out the registration; • A person present at the stillbirth; • A person having charge of the stillborn child or; • The occupier of the premises in which the stillbirth took place. • There is no legal requirement to register a stillbirth but many parents see this as an opportunity to have a formal record of their stillborn child. • What information will you need to give the Registrar? • Details of the Child: • Forename(s) and surname; • Sex of the child; • Date and place of stillbirth. • Details of the Mother: • Forename(s) and surname; • Maiden Surname; • Date and Place of Birth; • Occupation; • Date and Place of Marriage (if married to the father of the stillborn child); • Address;. • Details of the Father: • Forename(s) and surname; • Date and Place of Birth; • Occupation; • Address;.
The Bereavement Service to report a death to the Social Security Agency Freephone 0800 085 2463 Citizens Advice Bureau 028 70344817 www.citizensadvice.co.uk CRUSE Bereavement Care (NI) Prince Regent Commercial Centre 8 Prince Regent Road, Belfast BT5 6QR Regional Office Tel: 028 9079 2419 Northern Area Tel: 028 2766 6686 www.cruse.org.uk The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS) NI Helpline: 07740993450 www.sandsni.org Samaritans 028 7032 0000 www.samaritans.org The official Government website www.nidirect.gov. uk (provides information and services available ie bereavement service, registering deaths, pensions, list of registration offices within Northern Ireland etc.)
On completion of the registration a stillbirth certificate will be issued, free of charge and if required a certificate for the burial or cremation of the stillborn child. This certificate would normally be given to the Funeral Director who is making the arrangements. Applications for Stillbirth Certificates: A certified copy of a stillbirth certificate may only be purchased by the mother or father of the stillborn child. (The father’s details would need to be recorded in the register entry for him to obtain a certificate).
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Funeral Gatherings At The Bushtown Hotel, we have years of experience in sympathetically attending to your requirements at this difficult time. Organising an after-funeral reception can add to the stress of losing a family member or close friend. We offer a choice of menus and refreshments for you to choose from and can accommodate any size of gathering up to 350 guests. Our Events Manager will organise every detail of the after-funeral reception. Our attentive staff will look after you and serve refreshments and stay on hand for any other requirements you have. We also provide direct access for disabled and elderly guests, and ample complimentary car parking. If you require any further information or would like to make a booking, our specialist Events Team are on hand to personally discuss your requirements.
The Bushtown Hotel, 283 Drumcroone Rd, Coleraine, BT51 3QT
T: +44(0)28 7035 8367 F: +44(0)28 7032 0909 reception@bushtownhotel.com
www.bushtownhotel.com
CROSS COUNTRY Cross Country Coaches in Coleraine are a friendly, local coach travel company. Run by Richard & Barbara Telford, we have 40 years’ experience in coach hire. Our large coaches can carry up to 57 passengers. Our Vintage 1950 Bedford Coach can carry up to 29 passengers. Most of our hires are for weddings, sight-seeing, shopping, sports or educational visits. However, we can also simplify funeral travel arrangements. We can take family and friends to and from the funeral service, burial or cremation.
Please contact us to discuss your requirements. Richard & Barbara Telford Cross Country Coaches 31 Ballylintagh Road Coleraine BT51 3SP T. 028 7086 8989
E. sales@crosscountrycoaches.com W. www.crosscountrycoaches.net
Ivan Murdock & Sons FUNERAL DIRECTORS
A family business free from all multinational connections providing a quiet, dignified and personal 24 hour service
FUNERAL HOME - 2a Windsor Avenue, Coleraine Pre Paid Funeral Plans Available
31 Bushmills Road, Coleraine Tel: (028) 7034 3350 www.ivanmurdockandsons.co.uk
FUNERAL DIRECTORS - EMBALMERS
Alfred H. Clyde Dip FD M.B.I.E N.A.F.D L.M.B.I.F.D
J. A. Keith. Clyde M.B.I.F.D
Established in 1930 Family Owned Personal Business 24 Hour Service 38 Mettican Rd, Garvagh, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT51 5HS Tel: 028 2955 8231 Urgent calls: 028 2955 8361
DEMPSEY FUNERALS I nde pe nde nt Fa mi l y Ru n Fu ne r a l Di recto rs
Arranging & Paying for a Funeral Plan in advance
Services q Family Run Business q Complete Funeral Service q Rest Room Facilities Available
Peace of mind • You will save your family from having to make difficult decisions, trying to guess what you would have wanted, at such a distressing time. • Avoid rising funeral costs with an inflation-proof guarantee of the Funeral Director’s charges. • Financial security – the funeral payment is held in Funeral Planning Trust until it is needed.
• The service will be provided by James McMullan & Son, independent funeral directors with a well established reputation. • There is no age limit and there are no awkward health questions.
q Parking at the Rear q Pre-paid Funerals can be Arranged
• You can make a once-only payment or pay by monthly instalments, whichever suits you. • All enquiries and arrangements are treated in confidence.
22 High Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim BT53 6AQ ~ Telephone 028 2766 2265 18 Church Street, Kilrea, County Londonderry BT51 5QU ~ Telephone 028 2954 0216 www.mcmullanfunerals.com ~ info@mcmullanfunerals.com
Address: 11-13 Coleraine Street Kilrea County Londonderry BT51 5QA
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• You can choose your own funeral arrangements, for your own peace of mind.
q 24 Hour Service
Telephone: 028 2954 0226 028 2954 0983
Flowers for all occassions
SPECIALISING IN FUNERAL AND SYMPATHY FLOWERS
Ma Fleur is an independent florist based in PORTSTEWART NORTHERN IRELAND MARK ALLEN
T: 028 7083 3333
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Coleraine Registration Office Cloonavin, 66 Portstewart Road Coleraine, BT52 1EY Tel. 028 7034 7020/21 - Fax. 028 7034 7022 Email. gwyneth.kerr@colerainebc.gov.uk Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 9.00 – 1.15 & 2.00 4.30 (Friday 4.00)